Bam Margera claims his addictions to Adderall and pain killers are a direct result of his performances and stunts connected to the ‘Jackass’ franchise.
According to new legal documents, obtained by The Blast, the ‘Jackass’ star explains that he never had issues with substance abuse or taking strong medications like Adderall or narcotic pain killers, until he started doing stunts and creating the television show and movies. Margera filed a declaration in his ongoing lawsuit against producers of the film, claiming he was unjustly fired and cut out of profits from ‘Jackass 4.’
“I did not have any issues with addiction and drug use until I began my involvement…with the Jackass franchise. It was not until then that I became dependent on Adderall and pain medications to maintain the focus needed to satisfy the production schedule of Defendants for my various television and motion picture projects and to manage the pain associated with the injuries I suffered performing the stunts in those productions,” Bam wrote.
Bam Margera: I Have A History Of Anxiety, Disordered Eating, and Alcohol Abuse
In the filing, Bam claims his other co-stars in the movies suffered similar issues following their involvement in the franchise.
He continued, “I am informed and aware that my fellow castmates have publicly and privately detailed their own challenges with addiction. I do not share those details here, as that is personal to them, notwithstanding my personal observations and knowledge.”
Margera is very specific in the legal documents about his current state of mental health, and the challenges that continue in his life. “As to me, I suffer from bipolar disorder and attention deficit disorder. I have taken prescription Adderall for more than the past 10 years. I also have a history of anxiety, disordered eating, and began abusing alcohol in my 20s. In 2009, at 30 years old, I entered a rehabilitation facility for the first time,” he said.
‘Jackass’ Star Says Co-Star’s Tragic Death ‘Intensified’ The Substance Abuse
Unfountley, after spending time on the right path, Bam’s best friend and co-star Ryan Dunn tragically died in a drunk driving accident. “Having lost my best friend of over a decade, my drinking intensified, leading to additional stints in rehabilitation,” he admitted. Adding, “While I maintained sobriety for several years, I relapsed after I was robbed at gunpoint in Colombia. After that, I entered a program to work on my sobriety and mental health.”
It should be noted, Bam admits to suffering from some mental health issues as a child — but says the producers of ‘Jackass’ were “privy to it since their earliest involvement with him. Interestingly, Margera says “skateboarding was the first thing in my life that provided stability. I felt good doing it, and I was required to focus on it to become one of the best skateboarders in the world.”
Shockingly, Bam says he sold more skateboards than Tony Hawk.
Bam Margera Claims He Is Owed Nearly $10 Million From ‘Jackass 4’
“Early in my career skateboards designed for me by Elements bearing my nickname, BAM, started selling more than 20,000 units per month; more than the boards sponsored by the most prominent skateboarder in the history of the sport, Tony Hawk,” he revealed.
As we reported, Bam is suing producers of the ‘Jackass’ films — claiming he is owed millions in compensation for his ideas. At this point, Bam believes he is owned at least $9.65 million for his involvement in the movie and says it’s “unfair to allow them to use my ideas without compensating me for them.”
In the end, the ‘Jackass’ star says the producers agreed to put money in a trust account for Bam’s young son, he doesn’t believe it is good enough.
The lawsuit is ongoing.
